Phew! It's Friday! I don't know about you, but I'm thrilled beyond belief that it's here...{cv} and I are staying in New England this weekend, which suits me just fine. From the fabulous bfrend bracelet giveaway and the very exciting annoucement of rendez-vous: new england {not to mention the fabulous Boston Bloggers event on Wednesday night!}, it's been a fun and exciting blog-filled week for me!

This weekend, we'll be bopping down to Newport to see the Doobie Brothers in concert--I grew up listening to them and am so excited to check them off my "in-person" checklist ;) On Saturday, I'm attending my first swap up in Boston and I couldn't be more excited! {cv} and I will spend Sunday getting life in order after a ridiculously busy month of July. And if money were no object, I'd be sporting
this snazzy polka-dot get-up, walking the streets of Newport and "listen{ing} to the music"...

1) Seeing as Splendid is one of my all-time favorite brands, it's no surprise I fell for this Polka-Dot Voile Blouse at first sight. This lovely top would be just right for a summer night out!

6) This outfit wouldn't be complete without a little pop of color and this 3.1 Phillip Lim Nashiki Clutch fulfills that requirement with ease! It's small and stylish--and really packs a punch.

If you want to see more Friday's Fancies from yours truly this week, check out my guest post on the lovely blog, days filled with love!---

Last week, Elizabeth from Pearls & Pugs rocked it with her look and won the "likes" competition!

If you want to be in the spotlight next week, here's what you need to do to make it happen :)

<--- If you'd like one, here's a little button to help promote your post!

I'm so excited to see your Friday's Fancies this week :) Each week, the posts keep getting better and better--so thank you for all the love you put into them. It most definitely doesn't go unnoticed! That's why posting a Friday's Fancies this week earns you an extra entry in the bfrend giveaway {which ends Sunday} :) Click on the link below to add your comment(s)--and score yourself another one if you included a bfrend bracelet!

Don't forget to register for rendez-vous: new england! Spots are filling up fast--and you won't believe all the fabulous giveaways we're lining up for those of you who join us :)

For as long as I can remember, I've loved buttons. I sought out every button I could find as a kid. I even made my parents stop at estate sales to find big piles of them. {Don't I sound like the coolest kid ever? Holy moly!} When my grandmother and great-grandmother passed in the mid 1990s, I inherited a few gorgeous boxes of buttons which I've held onto for years. And now, thanks to pinterest, I have plenty of ideas about what I can do with those special buttons--and all the others I collected!

Happy Tuesday everyone! Thank you SO much to those of you who have
entered the fabulous bfrend giveaway {and if you haven't, you should}!
I promised another big announcement this week...and here it is :)

For those of you in New England, it's the perfect opportunity to get to know your blogger community better...and for those of you who might be elsewhere, it's an excuse to make that trip to Boston you've been dying to make for years. If you've never been to a meet-up, it's a great way to see the blessings of blogging come to life. I'd love to see your face in the next photo of my blogger meet-up montage :)

We have a touristy adventure planned for Saturday afternoon, September 10th and a fabulous mixer on tap later that evening evening. On Sunday, September 11th, we'll explore the SoWa Open Marketand have a picnic to follow. This event is open to bloggers of all ages and genres -- we're just hoping to have a LOT of fun getting to know fellow bloggers!

If you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to get in touch! If you're making the trip from outside of New England, we advise booking your travel ASAP because these events will fill up--as will flights and buses. {Please email me after you book and I can help coordinate a roommate if you'd like one to help cut down on costs! If you're in New England and just want a fun night in Boston, you can also email me for our hotel location--I just don't want to share it broadly so we can maintain privacy and safety.}

If you're not in the area, where else might you like to see a rendez-vous?

Should you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to get in touch!Many thanks to the beautiful ladies from Boston Bloggers andPaper Mossfor their support :) If you can't make it this weekend, don't fret--this won't be the last rendez-vous...Hope to see you in September! xoxo {av}

P.S. Do you want to give away a little something to all the attendees? Email me :) Your products are sure to get a wide audience! Or--if you're in Massachusetts or New England and want to help, definitely reach out to us! We just might need you!

I can't wait to see who wins! Many many thanks to Monika for sponsoring this giveaway! Each and every one of you deserves to win...and if I could, I'd give you all a bfrend bracelet because of all the love you've given me! Good luck to each of you :) Keep your eyes peeled for another big announcement tomorrow! xoxo {av}

The fine print: This giveaway will run until Sunday, July 31st at 5:00PM EST and the winner will be announced on the morning of Monday, August 1st. The maximum number of entries is 10. If you don't leave your entries in separate comments, you'll only receive the number of entries that corresponds with the number of comments you left. {If you have any other questions, please email me!}

Happy Friday! Since I spent Monday in Chicago, today feels more like Thursday--but I'm not complaining. This week, my Friday's Fancies pays homage to one of the fashion highlights of any summer: the little white dress (aka the LWD).I paired it with a bold emerald green to make that white pop. Take a peek!

1) From the moment I saw this Temperley London Mini Beatriz Dress, I knew it was love. I thought this LWD would be a stellar dress to sport in this heat wave. Despite the sleeves, it's gauzy feel just screams summer.

2) If it's a Chloé, then it's hard not to love in my book. ThisSally Medium Shoulder Bag is no exception. The gorgeous emerald green color and the envelope style had me at hello.

3) With so much going on in the dress and on my wrists, I thought these Marc by Marc Jacobs Small Faceted Studs would be just enough to keep things interesting!

4) These Diane von Furstenberg Opal Leather Wedge Sandals would be a fun choice for this outfit. Though I normally am a flats-loving gal, I'd take these wedges in a heartbeat. In multiple colors. ;)

5) As a May baby, I've always loved emeralds. I simply adore these Amrita Singh Richa Bangles because they come in my favorite green hue. They also do quite a lot to kick this outfit up a notch--or ten.

---If you're looking for another dose of Friday's Fancies from yours truly, be sure tocheck out my guest post on one of my favorite blogs, Strong Sense of Style!
---
After her gorgeous post last week, Ashley from a {little} dash of ash won first prize in the "likes competition! With her killer fashion sense, I'm so grateful to have her as a Friday's Fancies faithful :)

Here's the low-down on how to earn a shout-out in my Friday's Fancies post next week...

Should you be looking for a win, there are a few ways to increase your odds. If you share your post on twitter, use the #FridaysFancies hashtag and include my twitter handle {@luvfromafar}, so I can give you some love too :) Feel free to use this button and spread the word!

Whether it's a LWD or another dreamy summer outfit, I'm equally as excited to see what you dream up this week! If you're not joining in the fun this week, know the invitation always stands! If you have any questions or need any help, feel free to email me--I'd be happy to find a solution! xoxo {av}

Happy Thursday! I woke up this morning to realize it was the 21st of July and nearly had a heart attack...where is this summer going!? Though I'm not prepared for another New England winter,
you better believe I'm going to soak up every last bit of summer. Before summer ticks away, I'm
searching for a great watch to bridge the seasons...and maybe you could help me decide!

After I saw this gorgeous get-up on pinterest, I've been keeping my eye peeled for a fabulous lace skirt. I positively adore the one below from Bird by Juicy Couture. The one drawback is its pricetag, so my search continues...it doesn't stop me from dreaming of how I'd wear it though ;) I love the idea of finding items to wear this summer that translate to the autumn as well. In my opinion, the lace skirt and the Coach Classics bridge the two seasons perfectly!

I'm back from a whirlwind trip of the Windy City--and what a wonderful weekend it was!

This is a photo-heavy post, but I think it manages to hit the high points of my trip :) Enjoy!

My windy weekend is one I won't soon forget. {ah} pulled together a stellar itinerary to show {ch} and I the best of what Chicago has to offer. We made new memories flying down Michigan Avenue, saw the sights in the daylight and the moonlight, and ate very well. I seriously can't thank her enough for inviting us to Chicago and sharing her hometown with us. Her family was so kind to open their home to us--and they did a fabulous sales job at trying to convince me that Chicago is the place to be long-term! I'm beyond grateful to have forever friends like {ah} and {ch}...and I can't wait for our next reunion :)

On top of it all, I tacked on an extra day so I could finally meet {jd}! She was one of the first bloggers I really got to know in the blogosphere. Though we've emailed and skyped plenty of times before, I was so glad to see her in person. I was thrilled to experience her corner of Chicago, meet her {h}, and dream of fun things on the horizon! I know we'll be friends even after things like blogs are obsolete with the newest technology in a few years time ;) After such an incredible weekend, I'll admit that I had a very hard time boarding the plane back to Rhode Island yesterday, only made better because I got to see {cv} at the end of it all.

What did you do with your weekend!? {And do you love the Windy City like me?}

One positive for this Tuesday is that it's Tuesday--and not Monday, which means Friday will be here before we know it ;) I hope you all have a fantastic day! I'll see you tomorrow :) xoxo {av}

Greetings from the Windy City! I've had such a wonderful trip back to the Midwest, so it makes
it hard to get excited about going back east tonight...except for the fact I'll get to see {cv} at the
end of it all. I'm so excited to have got some good quality time with my girlfriends--old and "new."
It's funny because I feel like {jd} and I can't be classified as "new" friends because it feels like
we've known each other for years. Yay for the blogosphere--and for finding lifelong friends!
Truly and honestly, there is nothing like a weekend with close friends...

While I'm away, I have a better vantage point by which to realize the good {and the tough} parts of long distance. I realized the other day this was the longest {cv} and I have been apart since our wedding. I've taken weekends away, but this five-day stretch in the Midwest accounts for our longest separation since April 10th of last year. I appreciate {cv} more every day...and hopefully, this post
affirms just what kind of dividends a healthy long distance relationship can provide.

Now, when you see a face like that, you may be asking yourself: why exactly would she share

this ridiculous picture when the caption mentions the "long distance retrospective"?
I have a few very easy answers to that question.

For starters, this photo makes me laugh SO HARD. One of the things I love about my relationship with {cv} is that he always keeps me laughing. Case in point: this photo perfectly embodies his playful razzing. I had to take photos of {cv} for my class at RISD and he was being such a trooper. Even though he hates having his photo taken, he was agreeing to my continual camera clicking...until he reached his breaking point, as evidenced in this photo. It will always make me laugh because I know just what's behind that goofy face of his. When we're apart, I definitely miss his sense of humor, but mostly I miss that smile he sports when he knows he just cracked a great joke ;)

Beyond the obvious ridiculousness of this photo, the simple fact of having photos of {cv} on a semi-regular basis means that we're in the same place, which is a big improvement on the three years we spent in different cities during our relationship. Now, with two years together in the same place, I sometimes wonder if I'm losing my perspective on just how hard it is to be long distance. When either one of us is gone for a few days {either electively or for work}, we both know how to survive without the other...though we'd much prefer to be surviving with each other. I think one of the lasting impressions of our years apart is that understanding any separation is only temporary. That perspective proves invaluable when we're apart because it means we're not spending hours on the phone with one another--distracting from what took us on the trip in the first place. We're able to focus on the friends {or the work} in front of us and know that when we come home, we'll have each other.

I pray we'll always keep this long distance retrospective, though I also pray we never have to live apart in the future. I've said it once and I'll say it again...I am so grateful to have had those years in different cities to help me fully appreciate what it's like to finally be in the same city.

Have you ever had an experience that you can now look back and appreciate, though you couldn't fully appreciate it when you were going through it?

I'm back in Rhode Island tonight--and you better believe I'm excited to see {cv}! It helps to distract from the fact I'll already be missing my girlfriends after a wonderful few days together...

Hope you had a fabulous weekend--see you back here tomorrow! xoxo {av}

P.S. Big thanks to the College Prepster for the shout-out on Friday about sun savvy!
We hit the 100 mark for pledges this weekend and I'm overjoyed!

Hello from Chicago! I'm in town this weekend for an action-packed girls weekend with {ah} and
{ch}. I have to tell you: it's great to be back in the Midwest! Though I grew up in Indiana, {ah} spent her pre-college years just north of the Windy City and wanted to share her hometown with {ch} and me. I'm pumped to see more of Chicago and share some time with a few of my favorite ladies. As an incredible added bonus, I even get to meet and spend time with my blogging bestie, {jd}!! All in all,
this weekend will be just what I need after a long few weeks.

With such a great weekend on tap, I decided to create a lazy, hazy summer chic outfit...though this weekend will be anything but lazy. I'm okay with that because it's going to be a memorable one!
I hope you like the pops of color against the neutral tones I've been loving these days :)

1) I don't think I'll ever get enough of a long pendant necklace, so when I spied this Kara by Kara Ross Red Python Eclipse Skin Pendant Necklace, I knew it would be a perfect springboard for my summer chic get-up. I love love love the layered chains and the overall texture of this necklace. It's fab!

2) Simple and chic, this Joie Selda Tank makes my heart happy. It's about as basic as you can get, but I can just feel its cotton-y perfection on my body. sigh.

3) It only happens every once in awhile, but...I actually own these 7 for All Mankind Roll-Up Shorts! I love them! I ruined my white shorts last summer after dancing all night long in New York City, so these beauties were a perfect replacement. I love the cuff and the soft denim. They work so well with this outfit--and are sure to be a fixture in my wardrobe for years to come.

4) This 3.1 Phillip Lim Lynus Camera Bag is so new that it's not even available yet. The photography lover in me longs for a gorgeous bag like this one....but really, the fashionista inside of me loves it even if it was listed as just a bag ;)

5) If you could put a pricetag on this candle, you'll never put it at where it's listed. I love the colors of this Missoni Home Torta Four-Wick Wax Candle and decided to include it in my Fancies because I thought it would be fun if I had an unlimited budget for a hostess gift. It ties this whole outfit together splendidly, don't you think?

6) An amped up version of flip-flops, these Tory Burch Abitha Patent Leather Thong Sandals add a pop of color and still keep with the lazy+hazy theme. I wish I could have them in all the colors they have available. Why does Tory tempt me so much? haha!

I hope you enjoyed my lazy and hazy summer chic this week--if you want more from me,

If you're joining in the Friday's Fancies fun, follow these simple instructions
and you just might appear in my post next week...

I cannot wait to see what you create this week--I seriously cannot tell you how honored I am to
have you linking up week after week. If you're new to Friday's Fancies, just know this: your goal
is to create your dream outfit without worrying about the pricetags! If you have any questions,
please send them my way...I'm happy to help :)

If you're in Chicago and on foursquare, you might be able to find me in the Windy City! Add me!
Thanks again for taking the time to link up today--have a fantastic weekend! xoxo {av}

At long last, here is the final round of photos from our week-long adventure in the Golden State!
This could be my favorite set of photos too--so you're in for a treat. Our last full day in Napa
started early. We boarded vans to head to the hot air balloon launch pad at 5:30am. It had been
quite some time since I'd seen that hour...but let me tell you: it was totally worth it! Enjoy :)

After our magical ride in the Valley, we headed over to another valley, this time in Sonoma County.

We met my very knowledgeable uncle at the Jimtown Store on the outskirts of Healdsburg, where

we found the food perfectly yummy and the atmosphere delightful. From there, my uncle showed

Found at the Culinary Institute of America, the Greystone set the stage for a phenomenal

last night with the {d}s. We even had an olive oil flight!

The final hours of that day consisted of Trivial Pursuit back in our suite, which was a perfect way

to top off our time with {jd} and {rd}. We woke up the next morning and gathered all our wine

{28 bottles between us--eeps!}, before checking out and heading into Napa for one last lunch.

We chose Gott's Roadside for our final bite, which is another place I'm glad we didn't miss.

I had a killer burger, full of flavor and topped with a slice of bleu cheese. {cv} made a healthier

choice and had tuna tacos ;) I'm salivating just thinking about that lunch...sigh.

Though traffic from Napa into San Francisco almost allowed us a few more hours with the {d}s, we
said our "see you laters" to {jd} and {rd} after what can only be classified as a perfect visit. Once we
left them, we managed to catch a few final glimpses of SF with one of my oldest friends in the world, {hs}. {Oldest in longevity--not age, of course!} She moved to the city after college for a teaching job and made our last hours in the Golden State that much more wonderful. It was great to catch up with {hs} after a few years apart and see her in her element!

After a stellar week in California and more than a thousand miles on the road, we boarded our
red-eye back to New England and tried to catch a few winks. I'm already ready to go back...
though my pants may never fit again if I was to eat that much food ;)

What is one of your favorite memories from your last vacation?
{I'd have a hard time picking just one from this trip!}

Thanks again for indulging me in one last California post! I hope you'll come back by tomorrow
for another round of Friday's Fancies :) This week, I'm pulling together a lazy and hazy summer
outfit. I hope you'll join in the fun and dream up your own Fancies! Until tomorrow, xoxo {av}

Happy Monday, everyone! This weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered...{cv} and I finally had a time to relax. We spent Friday night at home--unpacking from the last two weeks of traveling. On Saturday, I woke up to clean our apartment from head to toe in preparation for a visit from one of my dearest childhood friends, {js}. He made his way up to Providence from Brooklyn, where he is in med school. After picking him up from the MegaBus, we headed straight for Newport to give him a taste of summer in New England. With a fabulous dinner in our bellies, we headed back toward Providence for another quiet evening of wine and memories.

We woke up for Sunday brunch before having to drop {js} back at the bus stop. {cv} and I ran a few errands {why, oh, why does Nordstrom have a private sale?} before grabbing some tilapia at Whole Foods for dinner. {It was our first attempt at fish--and boy, we'll be making it again!} Over the weekend, I even managed to page through a couple of magazines which gave me the idea for this post!

The J.Crew shorts {seen in the top left} mark my first "ikat" purchase. I'm so excited to start wearing them. I just hadn't found an ikat piece that fit my taste until I spotted these J.Crew beauties. I love the splash of color and the happy vibe an ikat pattern provides, don't you?

After reading a few magazines mentioning the "Aztec" trend on the docket for fall, it got me

thinking about how to cut down on the trendy nature of prints from season to season.

To me, style is all about finding pieces you love {that can last a few seasons} and continuously incorporating them with other items which already exist in your closet. Those J.Crew shorts can

be paired with a chambray shirt I bought last summer at the outlets and with an ever trusty pair

of leather sandals I've had for years.

The popularity of certain patterns may ebb and flow--but honestly, if you love what

you're wearing, does it really matter if you're sporting ikat or Aztec? I think not.

Do you combat trendiness in your wardrobe or do you embrace it?

My philosophy? When I want to add a piece of "now" without breaking the bank,

I hit up Forever21. When I want to add a piece of "forever", I do my homework and

spend a few more pennies to have something I'll wear more often and wear for years.

Many thanks to the 60+ lovely ladies who dreamed with me last Friday...your posts get better

Friday is finally here! After a tough week, a light and fun post dreaming of fashion is just what the doctor ordered ;) This week, I've pulled together an outfit which appeals to the beach girl who lives inside of me. Though many of you know that beach girl now practices much more restraint {and so should you!}, I will never stop loving the sound of the ocean or the smell of the salty air. I may miss my tan skin, but it doesn't mean I can't enjoy the seaside...responsibly, of course.

I hope you enjoy this sun-safe beachy chic outfit from yours truly...

1) With my sun history in mind, this La Perla Ruched Cut-Out One-Piece Swimsuit made perfect sense. This beauty of a bathing suit would keep me covered up and still allow me to feel cute! I love the small cut-out on the chest and the gold detail too!2) This classic ASOS Oversized '70s Stripe Floppy Straw Hat seemed like the no-brainer choice for this waterside get-up. It's great for keeping the sun at bay and for upping the chic ante.3) I fell in love with this versatile Salma Cotton-Gauze Dress from Bronzette the moment I saw it. Simple yet refined, I think it would look great with this bathing suit and the others in my closet!4) I wish I were coordinated enough to sport heels with my swimsuit, but I'm a big klutz! To offset my lack of coordination, I spied these Rebecca Minkoff Beach Babe Strappy Sandals and thought they perfectly drew out the gold in the swimsuit.5) Living out my sun savvy pledge, I think sunscreen is an absolute must for the beach. Since Friday's Fancies is about dreaming, I'm hoping this SkinCeuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 45 can help protect me from future skin issues many years into the future!6) Tory Burch rocks it once again with these 'Disco Logo' Rounded Sunglasses. They're big, they're bold, and most of all, they'll keep the sun from affecting my view of my latest read.

Long time Friday's Fancies faithful, Julie from Brown Eyed Belle, holds the "likes" title for the Patriotic Pretty link-up! Congrats to this beautiful blogger who always share incredible inspiration photos for her outfits...be sure to give her some love for her win!

If you want to grace the pages of {long distance loving} next week,

here are a few pointers to help you on your way...

Promote your post via twitter, facebook, smoke signals, or with the button below! The "likes" competition ends on Monday, July 11th...so make your votes count! {If you use twitter, be sure to use the hashtag #FridaysFancies or mention @luvfromafar so I can help you too!}

An endless supply of thanks to the loyal Friday's Fancies posters, who never cease to amaze me

with their creativity or their kindness. 25 weeks later, here we are...and I'm looking forward to

many more months {and years} of dreaming together :) If you have any questions, please email me

Happy Friday! What a wonderful Friday it is too--in the United States, it holds the promise of a long weekend and it also holds one of my favorite holidays: the Fourth of July. Short of Christmas, I always anticipate the festivities of Independence Day. Maybe it's the fact that I'm an American Studies grad, maybe it's just because I'm a wee bit of a nerd...but whatever it is: I'm pumped for this weekend!

Here is what I'll deem to be my patriotic pretty outfit. In true Friday's Fancies fashion, I dreamed big...

1) These rich, red A.P.C. Cotton-Gabardine Shorts simply rock. I owned a pair of shorts like these {with a much smaller pricetag} the summer I lived in France. I desperately wish I still had them!
2) I eyed this Joie Orly Silk Top and immediately fell in love with the pleats. It's simple but beautiful, which is just my style.
3) As of late, I have been working to rock some bolder earrings and these Yochi Ivory Cross Drop Earrings definitely fit the bill. Their versatility would make them wearable today and for many years to come.
4) Full parity: I have tried to include these Tory Burch Wedge Sandals in a Friday's Fancies for weeks. To me, they are a page out of the playbook on wedge perfection.
5) I don't think one could ever go wrong with Yves Saint Laurent and this Python Clutch Bag is no exception. The color and size of this stunner rocked my world.
6) If you see me on a normal day, you might notice I wear sunglasses more like a headband ;) I thought these Selima Optique Andy Round-Frame Acetate Sunglasses would be great for sun protection and hair defense too. Don't judge!

Thank you so much to those of you who voted for last week's "likes" champ!
Jessica from birdie to be won the honors with her gorgeous California-inspired get-up :)

Here's more info on how yourblog can be featured next week!

Spread the word via twitter {use the #FridaysFancies!} or whatever other way you think works best!

Since you work so hard on your posts, don't forget to use your blog name in the "title" box when you add the link to your post through the linky tool...I don't want you missing out on the recognition or praise!

{psst} If you're new to the idea of Friday's Fancies, check out this post or email me! It's really a simple concept: you create an inspiration board with pieces you'd love to have this weekend, if money were no object. In other words: you get to dream big and forget about pricetags. Pretty simple and super fun!

Feel free to tack this button on your post if you want to drum up interest too! {If you need the code, it's at the bottom of this post.}

Oh! Be sure to check out my guest post on the ever-fabulous blog, Mo Pie Please! Meagan is a long-time Friday's Fancies faithful and I am honored she is in that group of lovely ladies!

To those of you linking up this week: thank you so much! I always love when Friday rolls around and your posts stream in...

you make me one happy blogger!

Last but certainly not least, an endless supply of thanks to those of you who have signed the sun savvy pledge! Your support is overwhelming! Danielle and I have plenty more up our sleeves, so keep checking back for tips on sun safety and ways to live out that sun savvy pledge :)

Be safe and have fun celebrating this weekend, whatever your plans!
Much love to all of you! xoxo {av}

All images, unless otherwise credited, were taken or created by the owner of this blog. Should you wish to use them, please contact me and then link back to {long distance loving} and provide the appropriate credit. I try my best to credit every found image which appears on this blog. Please email me if I have omitted your image credit and I will fix it right away! The owner of this blog may be compensated for purchases made by clicking provided links. Unless otherwise stated, these links are not sponsored and the author likes the content or would not otherwise provide it. Should you have any questions, please email me.